WORLD

At least 40 dead in Bolivian carnival festivities

AzerTAg.az

At least 40 people died and over 100 were injured in Bolivia during the carnival weekend from car accidents, homicides and flooding, the government announced Tuesday, according to Xinhua.

Carlos Romero, minister of the interior, said that most deaths were the result of traffic accidents while he was being interviewed alongside President Evo Morales on the Kawsachun Coca radio station.

"The three days of Carnival parties left a fatal tally of at least 40 dead and 124 injured, most due to traffic accidents, from the explosion in Bolivian city of Oruro and from drowning, homicides and flooding among other facts. We still have to see Tuesday's figures," said Romero.

According to a government report, 16 people were killed in traffic accidents and eight were killed by a gas tank explosion of a mobile food stall near the entrance of Oruro carnival.

In addition, there were also six people who died from drowning, four by homicide, three from suicide, and an unspecified number from hypothermia.

According to police data, there were 67 fatalities during the 2017 carnival festivities.